Niobium is frequently alloyed with steel because of it strength. It is lightweight and strong at high temperatures, making it perfect for missiles and other aerospace applications. It also sees use in the nuclear and superconducting industries. The major marketable niobium materials are ferroniobium, nickel-niobium, and niobium metal, ore, and oxide. In the United States, niobium was consumed by the metallurgical industry. Niobium masteralloys—ferroniobium and niobium-nickel
alloy—were consumed to produce steel and superalloys. About 75% of world niobium consumption was for the production of microalloyed steel. Brazil and Canada were the leading producers of niobium mineral concentrates in 2009. The leading niobium ore and concentrate producers were Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) in Brazil and IAMGOLD Corporation
(Niobec Mine) in Canada.

As much as 97% of 2008 world niobium production resulted from the mining pyrochlore mineral [(Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F)] in Brazil and Canada. Steelmaking, primarily high-strength low-alloy and stainless steels, accounted for about 90% niobium use. The niobium-containing high-strength low-alloy steel was use in automobiles, construction, and gas pipelines; the stainless
steel in automobiles

The principal use for niobium was as an additive in steelmaking, mostly in the manufacture of microalloyed steels. The production of high-strength low-alloy steel was the leading use for niobium, and the trend for niobium consumption, domestically and globally, was expected to continue to closely follow that of steel production, as the steel industry is estimated to account for as much as 90% of niobium consumption. Consumption of niobium, however, does not mirror trends in overall steel production, as only 10% of steel products contain niobium. The leading nonsteel use of niobium was in superalloys for, among other applications, aircraft engines.

The long-term growth of niobium use was interrupted by the economic downturn of 2008–09. Niobium is used in high strength
low-alloy steels consumed by pipeline, automobile, and construction industries. Greater demand for natural gas was expected to result in increased demand for pipeline steel. The sharp decline in demand for automobiles and in construction that started in 2008 was part of the current economic cycle. Recovery of these markets was expected to revive demand for niobium. It was reported that globally the unit consumption of niobium per metric ton of steel produced was 55 to 60 g/t, while that of highly economically developed countries was 100 g/t and of China was 40 g/t, suggesting significant potential for niobium consumption growth as China’s economy develops.

Domestic Production and Use: Significant U.S. niobium mine production has not been reported since 1959. Domestic niobium resources are of low grade, some are mineralogically complex, and most are not commercially recoverable. Companies in the United States produced ferroniobium and niobium compounds, metal, and other alloys from imported niobium minerals, oxides, and ferroniobium. Niobium was consumed mostly in the form of ferroniobium by the steel industry and as niobium alloys and metal by the aerospace industry. Major end-use distribution of reported niobium consumption was as follows: steels, 74%; and superalloys, 26%. In 2009, the estimated value of niobium consumption was $162 million and was expected to be about $330 million in 2010, as measured by the value of imports.

Recycling: Niobium was recycled when niobium-bearing steels and superalloys were recycled; scrap recovery specifically for niobium content was negligible. The amount of niobium recycled is not available, but it may be as much as 20% of apparent consumption.

Events, Trends, and Issues: Niobium principally was imported in the form of ferroniobium and niobium unwrought metal, alloy, and powder. United States niobium import dependence was expected to be the same as that of 2009, when Brazil was the leading niobium supplier. By weight in 2009, Brazil supplied 75% of total U.S. niobium imports, 69% of ferroniobium, 91% of niobium metal, and 86% of niobium oxide. The leading suppliers of niobium in ore and concentrate were Mozambique (48%) and Canada (32%). Financial market problems in 2008 and the subsequent economic slowdown resulted in reduced niobium material consumption in 2009. Niobium apparent consumption is believed to have increased significantly in 2010 compared with that of 2009.

World Resources: World resources are more than adequate to supply projected needs. Most of the world’s identified resources of niobium occur mainly as pyrochlore in carbonatite [igneous rocks that contain more than 50% by volume carbonate (CO3) minerals] deposits and are outside the United States. The United States has approximately 150,000 tons of niobium resources in identified deposits, all of which were considered uneconomic at 2010 prices for niobium.

Substitutes: The following materials can be substituted for niobium, but a performance or cost penalty may ensue: molybdenum and vanadium, as alloying elements in high-strength low-alloy steels; tantalum and titanium, as alloying elements in stainless and high-strength steels; and ceramics, molybdenum, tantalum, and tungsten in high-temperature applications.